Abstract [en]

Introduction: The socioeconomic position (SEP) and health association is well studied; less is known about how the association varies with age. We study how the relation between education and physical and cognitive functioning vary by age.

Methods: A nationally representative random sample of Swedes aged 76+ years was interviewed in 2010/2011 (n=890) (non-response 14%). Men aged 80+ years and women 85+ were over sampled. (Sampling weights was used to control for this.)

Results: Significant associations were found between higher education and better function (and better global self-rated health) for all indicators. All associations to education decreased with age except vision that only decreased for men. The associations between education and performance, mobility, everyday competence, and GSRH decreased more with age among women. The associations between education and lung functioning and MMSE decreased more with age among men.

Conclusions: Age patterns in the associations between education and functioning differ by indicator. In general education’s relation to both physical functioning and cognitive functioning and global self-rated health seems to decrease with age.